National Currency

Moldova’s national currency is Moldovan Leu (MDL). Cash in circulation is comprised of banknotes of MDL 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000, and coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 bani. The Moldovan Leu was introduced to replace the Moldovan coupon (provisional currency) on November 29, 1993. The replacement exchange rate was MDL 1 for 1000 coupons.

The banknotes have several security features to include a dark outline watermark depicting the portrait of Stefan the Great (Stefan cel Mare) directed towards the center, visible if seen against light; the metallic security thread incorporated between the left vertical decorative element and the central rosette, visible if seen against light.

See-through feature: when the banknote is held against light, the outline of the pattern of the sun on the front side and of the crescent moon on the reverse side must match perfectly - as well as the circle of the sun and the circle within which the crescent moon is depicted. The letter "V" on the front side and the Column of Traian and the Infinite Column depicted on the reverse side should form the letter " M" (Moldova) when combined together.

Did you know?

The front side of all Moldovan Banknotes shows the same person – Stefan cel Mare (Steven the III-rd the Great).

The reverse side of MDL 100 banknote shows the graphic image of Cetatea Tighina (Bender Fortress) within a frame and under it the inscription "CETATEA TIGHINA. But the inscription has a spelling mistake: the word ‘Thighina’ must be spelt without ‘h’ — Tighina.

The front side of all Moldovan Banknotes shows the white circle with the wording “PE-UN PICIOR DE PLAI, PE-O GURA DE RAI…”( i.e. the first two lines of “Miorita” Folk Ballad).

The reverse side of MDL 1000 banknote shows the graphic image of the offices of the Moldovan President, but the inscription under it says, “Parlamentul Republicii Moldova” (the Moldovan Parliament). It is actually the former building of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, and the Parliament was located there in 1992 when the banknotes were printed, but it moved to a different building afterwards.